Gardener I

**Join us to shape the future of St. Catharines**:
**About the City**:
At the City of St. Catharines, we are committed to realizing the vision outlined in The City of St. Catharines - Strategic Plan 2023 to 2027. Our goal is to cultivate a city that thrives on safety, innovation, sustainability, and caring, not just for today, but for generations to come. Join our team and be part of a meaningful journey to shape the future of our community, leaving a lasting impact that extends far beyond the present.

**About the Role**:
**What You Will be Doing**:

- Maintain flower beds, lawns, ornamental trees and shrubs in parks, cemeteries and roadside areas. Sample tasks include:

- Prepare and cultivate soil including weeding, rototilling, plowing, rolling and fertilizing.
- Plant, transplant and remove trees, shrubs and flowers.
- Prune and clip trees, shrubs and hedges.
- Mow lawns.
- Remove and dispose of debris and garbage from parks and gorges.
- Maintain an inventory for planting requirements.
- Operate equipment and vehicles such as but not limited to: truck, van, tractor, sidewalk plough, roller, vacuum machine, loader, snow blower, chainsaw etc., in a safe and efficient manner.
- Pick up and transport workers, parts, material, equipment and trailers as required
- General labour duties such as pot hole patching, hand-sweeping, litter pickup, landscaping, sidewalk clearing, watercourse cleaning, snow removal activities as needed.
- Provide functional leadership of others in small groups to perform various general labour and or horticulture duties.
- Ensure equipment is safe to operate, securely stored and practice good housekeeping of vehicle and work areas.
- Provide excellent customer service; respond to needs of all customers and staff as required.
- Efficiently and accurately complete paperwork (e.g. daily performance logs, time sheets and accident reports).
- Perform other similar and related duties as required.
- These responsibilities outline the principal functions of the position and serve as a guiding vision for the role's impact and contribution._

**About You**:
**Qualifications**:

- Grade 12 Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) Certificate.
- Post-secondary Diploma in Horticulture or equivalent of education and experience.
- Current Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Exterminator Technician required, Exterminator preferred.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Accreditation preferred, working knowledge of IPM required.
- Valid - Standard First Aid / CPR C Certification as recognized through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
- Valid, unrestricted Class “G" driver’s licence held in good standing. Class “DZ" driver’s licence preferred.
- Formal training and experience with the Occupational Health and Safety Act in particular as it relates to maintenance and construction activities (e.g. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), fall arrest, trench safety).

**Skills**:

- Effective time management skills and attention to detail with the ability to organize work to meet deadlines, multi-task and work independently in situations with mínimal supervision.
- Exceptional customer service skills with a strong sense of public service and cooperation, and well developed abilities to deal with the public and citizens’ groups.
- Basic computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office Suite an asset.

**Other Requirements**:

- A demonstrated commitment to enhancing a safety culture. Knowledge of City of St. Catharines safety policies preferred.
- Proven completion of Ministry of Labour Worker Health and Safety Awareness training.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Ontario Traffic Manual with emphasis on Book 7 preferred. Ability to safely set up traffic control in work zones during roadway or utility construction and maintenance operations.
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the job as described in the physical demands analysis (PDA).
- Availability to work flexible hours (e.g. working shifts for a 7 day, 24 hour operation, overtime, winter control).

**What’s in it for you**:

- Salary & Benefits: Get a competitive salary plus health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage (for eligible positions).
- Pension Plan: Enjoy enrollment in the OMERS pension plan with matched contributions for a secure retirement. Learn more at OMERS.
- Flexibility: Achieve work-life balance with our hybrid work environment (for eligible positions).
- Professional Development: Access training and development funds to support your career growth.
- Make Your Mark: Share your ideas, drive change, and leave a lasting impact through modernization efforts.
- Great People: Work with a supportive team and a leadership team focused on growth and success.

**Other Job Details**:

- Pay Rate: $29.65
- Employee Group: CUPE 150
- Department: Municipal Works
- Position Type: Seasonal, Full-time (approx. April to November)
- Work Mode: In-person
- Work Location: Lake Service Centre
- Hours of Work: Monday to Friday,